Public Statements

Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On The Unveiling Of Bipartisan Legislation To Reform The Nation's Immigration System

Statement

[Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) issued the following statement Wednesday following the release of a comprehensive immigration reform proposal from the "Gang of Eight." The Committee has held three hearings on the issue of immigration reform this year alone and will hold a fourth hearing Friday on the bill proposed today. The Committee will hold a fifth immigration hearing on Monday.]

"Now that we have comprehensive immigration reform legislation to review, the Senate Judiciary Committee can make progress on this important issue. Our current immigration system is broken. We owe it to the millions of American families who are suffering under this current system to reform it, which is why the Judiciary Committee has already dedicated considerable time to comprehensive immigration reform this year.

"I was glad to hear Senator Rubio say this past weekend that he expects the 92 Senators not involved in the "Gang of Eight' to improve this legislation. I expect that many Senators on the Judiciary Committee will have additional ideas for improvements to the proposed bill, and for more ways we can improve the broken system. In addition to the hearings we have already had on immigration reform this year we will have two more public hearings to examine this proposal. Then we can begin the serious work of debating and voting on amendments, and voting on advancing an amended proposal to the full Senate for consideration.

"I look forward to reviewing the legislative text released today and to our next Judiciary Committee hearing where the details of this proposal will be examined in public."